TVP905!

In 1960/61, Bob Grauso built his first prototype fiberglass shelled snare drum. Shortly thereafter he started up his first company named G&M Custom Drums along with John Morena. They DID put custom badges on the snare drums as every drum was built to order back then. The G&M Custom drums that I have seen .. ( three of them actually ) .. ALL had a nameplate/badge with the customers name engraved that looks like what you have here. Gene Krupa's, Jake Hanna, and Sonny Igoe's were the first three to be built. Bob built one for himself that ended up being owned and played by Buddy Rich in 1965/66 when Buddy was still with Rogers! Anyway ... in late 1965 Bob and John started the actual FIBES Custom Drum Company, and the rest everyone pretty much knows ... although there are even MORE little twists and turns in the drum company's history. So! ...

... based on your pics and the nameplate badge, this could very well be yet another G&M Custom built drum. Whereas I don't have a G&M Custom in my collection, I DO have an early Fibes custom built snare drum that dates to 1966/67, and was built by Bob Grauso with the then prototype butt/throw exactly like he put on one of Buddy Rich's many fiberglass snare drums. I only make mention as the shell build up and look of the fiberglass is identical to what you have here, excepting the fact that mine is wrapped in the very well known chromed spring steel that Fibes was famous for. I have a complete set of them actually .. ( 1967/68 Buddy Rich model ) .. which can be seen if you have a look at my pic at the top.

Hope this was of some help, and might have shined a little light on your drum, which by the way, is extremely cool! I already know how it sounds!

Tommyp

Thanks Tommy! Exactly the kind of information I was hoping for.

The knowledge on this forum is just unparalleled!

I had a feeling it was a G&M drum, but just wasn't sure enough to offer any help. Thanks, again, to TommyP for educating us!

And, TVP905, Welcome to our forum!

-Mark

THANKS Mark, poppies, and TVP915! I have been a fan of Bob Grauso and Fibes since my first set of Fibes Cyrstalites back in 1973. Over the years I ended up researching a lot of this stuff as well as knowing TWO Fibes endorsers back in the 70's, both of which filled me in on a lot, including Bob Grauso. So all of that, plus the BR Fibes connection in 1967 and beyond, plus the three snare drums and full set I own/play now, and you could say that I'm a fan! Anyway, glad you enjoyed!

Tommyp

Gotta ad me to the list thanks very much for the course professor !!

Tommy did they make their own shells back then? This drum looks like a spun Blaemire shell.

Hey Glenn!

All hand built by Bob Grauso using his own molds back then, well ... and some input from John Morena! Bob said the first few batches of shells sounded INCREDIBLE! EXACTLY what he was hoping for! .. but .. they were very brittle. Bob said if they were dropped they could shatter. According to BG, they built their own shells during this period. I will say that all the early G&M Custom fiberglass shells had a "wrap" of some kind, and were not left in their natural state as this one is. As I mention all the time though, there were exceptions with just about every drum manufacturer back then. Later, as the Fibes Custom Drums Company, the snare drum shells ONLY, were outsourced and featured a spun fiberglass shell. Based on that information, it is entirely possible that TVP905's drum was done later ... but don't know for sure, as all the involved parties have sadly passed. As to whether Blaemire was making the shells for Fibes when Bob and John started the actual Fibes Custom Drum Company in 1965, I don't know .. but .. those shells are indeed all spun and look very much like the Blaemires!

Tommyp

Hi Tommy! Thanks for the great info! Love seeing and reading about the early days on the different drum companies. Yes indeed shell does have that Blaemire look for sure. 3 point throw too a interesting choice given the Ludwig lugs.